Featured Member
Meet Eric on page 01!
Summer 2026 Course Catalog
June – August 2026
Course registration begins Wednesday, April 22, 2026 and runs through Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Membership is required to register for courses.
Published April 9, 2026
Please visit our website or refer to
To our Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Members,
The long winter we’ve had this year makes us even more excited for our Summer term!
We’re excited to offer a wide variety of Tufts OLLI and Osher Online topics this summer, covering everything from ‘Roman Coins’ to ‘Plant ID Guided Nature Walk’.
As a reminder, we’ve redesigned and reorganized our course catalogs to make it easier for our readers to find courses in their favorite topic areas or those led by their favorite facilitators. Looking for our traditional ‘At-aglance’ page? It’s still here! We placed it at the back of the catalog to make for easier home printing and easy removal should you prefer to bring that quick list of course options with you.
Our Summer term would not be possible without the help of our member-led Curriculum Committee, nor would our courses be up and running without our member
instructors and the Tufts students, staff, and faculty, and our Outside Experts who teach them - THANK YOU!
As always our team is just a phone call away if you have any questions or would like assistance in registering. Please do not hesitate to give us a call at (617) 627-5699 or email us at OsherLLI@tufts.edu.
We look forward to (finally) celebrating the summer with you!
Your Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Team,
Callan B. Moody Program Director
Kathy Scanlon Program Administrator
Tufts OLLI Policies
All Tufts OLLI members are expected to know and follow our policies as listed on our website. To ensure a pleasant and welcoming sense of community for our members, all Tufts OLLI Community Members (current members, course instructors, guest speakers, etc.) must follow our community standards and guidelines for participation.
Tufts OLLI Community Standards and Guidelines for Participation
A social community is not just a group of individuals with shared interests; it’s a vibrant space that fosters connection, support, curiosity, and collaboration. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Tufts University is a strong community of older learners that is also an important part of the Tufts University community, which is comprised of students and educators of all ages.
Tufts OLLI strives to create an environment that focuses on the following:
• Respect & Kindness: Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
• Constructive Dialogue: Encourage passionate discussions but respect differing views without personal attacks.
• Zero Tolerance for Disrespect: Offensive language, discrimination, or distruptive behaviors are not allowed, and violators may face consequences.
• Inclusive Learning: Provide a welcoming environment where diverse perspectives are valued and ensure a conducive environment for academic and personal development.
All members of the Tufts OLLI community (paid members, course instructors, guest speakers, etc.) will be held accountable to these standards and guidelines. The Program Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, will handle any infractions. Violations may result in discontinuation of participation in the program.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Office Closures
Tufts University and the OLLI office will be closed on the following days during Summer registration and the Summer term:
• May 25, 2026
• June 19, 2026
• July 3, 2026
Communication
A newsletter is sent to all current OLLI members every Tuesday. This newsletter will include important announcements, RSVP links for events, etc. So you can be sure to receive this email and other important communications from our office, please be sure to add the following emails to your address book to help keep them out of your spam folder:
• OsherLLI@tufts.edu
• Callan.Moody@tufts.edu
• OsherOnline@northwestern.edu
Didn’t receive an email you were expecting from the office or course leader? Please check your spam folder!
New this year, we will also be using the Nearpeer desktop and mobile app to streamline communications with members! More information about this platform can be found on page 05. Members will be added to our Nearpeer instance weekly on Mondays.
Disability Accommodations
If you have a disability and need accommodation, please call our office at (617) 627-5699. A two-week advance notice is suggested. We are committed to equal access for persons with disabilities and will make every effort to provide accommodations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Community Partners
Tufts OLLI is proud to partner with Brookhaven at Lexington and Brooksby Village. Through our partnership, members who reside at both locations have a slightly different registration process. Please contact our office at OsherLLI@tufts.edu for assistance.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts University
Phone: (617) 627-5699
Email: OsherLLI@tufts.edu
Web: olli.tufts.edu
80 George Street Medford, MA 02155
On the Cover: Meet Eric Mankin
I joined Tufts OLLI right after the pandemic, and it’s been a privilege to work with members, the board, and Callan and Kathy as we navigate our way back to a vibrant learning community. I take two or three courses a semester and always appreciate them—both the expertise of our course instructors and the insights and perspectives of fellow learners. In the last couple of semesters, I’ve taken some Osher Online courses, and those provide an engaging large lecture format, while I’ve found our local Tufts courses have more of a seminar feel to them, both online and in-person. My granddaughter Dia was born on December 7th, and as a new grandpa I couldn’t resist choosing a picture of me holding her during her 100 day celebration in late March of this year. We are both wearing traditional Korean outfits.
COURSE CATEGORIES
By Instructor
Abramovits, Emanuel 14
Adams, Jeff 09
Baker, Chris 15
Carlson, Bernie 18
Cooper, Matthew 22
Cronk, Randy 09
Elfant, Allan 13
Festa, Michael 16
Goddard, Eileen 19
Hirsch, Steven 11
Holland, Erin 24
Huang, Shiou Ai 23
Jiménez, Justin 20
Male, Hannah 10
McCree, Paula 17
McGrath, Steve 21
Moe, Aung 23
Nelson, Curtis 21
Nero, Culiandra 12
Petri, Dede 11
Portela, Rafael Davis 10
Possumato, Daniel 16
Regnier, Blake 14
Roberts, Alison 14
Schaffer, Jonathan 18
Scheer, Cryst’l 13
Sease, Kasey 23
Singh, Hardeep 15
Slahor, Stephenie 24
Strout, Stephen 20
Thurston, Robert 22
Ueda, Reed 17
Health and Wellness
History
Literature and Philosophy
Music
Politics, Economics, and Sociology
Psychology
Religion
Science, Nature, and Technology
Travel and Culture
Visual Arts
Suggested and Required Reading Information
To better manage our limited catalog space, price information and the links to purchase any suggested and/or required materials for our courses will only be available on the course registration website, go.tufts.edu/ Catalog.
2025-2026 Membership Info
For many years, our organization has maintained a single membership fee structure. While this model has served us well, we’ve listened carefully to your feedback and spent time evaluating how we can better serve the diverse needs and interests of our members while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our program. As a result, we introduced a tiered membership system starting July 1, 2025.
Why the Change?
Our goal is to offer more flexibility, choice, and value for everyone. We understand that members participate in different ways—some join us for occasional events, while others are more involved year-round. The new tiered system allows each member to choose a level that best fits their lifestyle and interests. All memberships for 2025-2026 expire on June 30, 2026.
Tufts OLLI Membership Tiers
Learn more about membership benefits and discounts on our website.
Base Membership $75/year
Lunch and Learn Talks
Special Events
Course Registrations - A la carte
Bronze Membership $150/year
Lunch and Learn Talks
Special Events
Course Registrations - A la carte
Silver Membership $350/year
Lunch and Learn Talks
Special Events
Course Registrations - A la carte
2 courses included
Gold Membership $750/year
Lunch and Learn Talks
Special Events
Course Registrations
Unlimited courses included
STEPS TO PURCHASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO REGISTER FOR COURSES
Base Membership
This will be automatically be added to your cart so you can check out the same way you have in the past!
Bronze Membership
OLLI On the Road
EDventure Clubs
OLLI On the Road
EDventure Clubs
OLLI On the Road
EDventure Clubs
OLLI On the Road
10% Discount on trip fees
EDventure Clubs
The best order of operations is to add this membership fee to your cart and then checkout. If you wish to register for courses, please login to your account and then register for courses as a separate transaction after purchasing your membership.
Silver or Gold Membership
Please follow the same steps as purchasing the Bronze Membership.
IMPORTANT:
The discount code to receive your free course(s) will be included on the receipt of your membership purchase and emailed to you only after the purchasing of the membership is complete.
Course Registration & Policy Information
For the 2025-2026 membership year, the process to purchase a membership and register for courses is slightly different than it has been in the past. Please refer to the previous page, page 3, for information on purchasing an OLLI membership.
REGISTER ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE
Add the OLLI courses you would like to take to your shopping cart and checkout! Payment is due to complete your course registration.
Registration runs from Wednesday, April 22, 2026 through Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Please note that a 2025-2026 Base Membership fee is automatically added to your shopping cart. Once you enter your username and password to login into your account, this fee will be removed if you already renewed your membership for this year.
Planning to purchase a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Membership? Please complete your membership transaction separately and prior to your course registration transaction.
Once you become a Silver or Gold Member, the discount code to receive your free course(s) will be included on the receipt of your membership purchase and emailed to you only after the purchasing of the membership is complete.
Already a Silver or Gold Member? Your discount code for summer registration will be sent to you via email the day registration opens.
Summer 2026 Registration Schedule
• Summer 2026 registration opens Wednesday, April 22, 2026
• Add/Drop period: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – Tuesday, May 26, 2026
• Courses begin Monday, June 1, 2026
Community Standards, Refunds, Withdrawals, and Cancellation Policies
The Tufts OLLI Community Standards & Guidelines for participation, refunds, withdrawals, and course cancellations can be found on our website, olli. tufts.edu. Those members participating in the program are responsible for reading and adhering to all policies found there.
Partial tuition remission is available on a limited basis. For more information, please contact our office at OsherLLI@tufts.edu or (617) 627-5699.
About Nearpeer
Nearpeer is a community engagement app recently expanding into lifelong learning programs nationwide. It is a closed app experience for Tufts OLLI members, so you don’t have to worry about advertisements, scams, or people trying to acquire or sell your information.
The goal is to make it easier for Tufts OLLI members to connect with one another regardless of location. Members can connect over shared interests, chat one-on-one, or join a specific chat group on various topics—all ways to strengthen our community even more! Here are just a few examples of the things you can do with Nearpeer:
• Connect and chat with people from your current or past courses.
• Search for and find people who are interested in graphic novels, cooking, or hiking.
• Join the group chat sharing a joke of the day.
• Connect and organize carpools for getting to campus or a community event.
Nearpeer can be used on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop device, whichever is easier for you! The Tufts OLLI team will offer training sessions throughout the summer and fall to help cover the basics of the platform and provide assistance if needed.
Tufts OLLI members will be added to our Nearpeer instance every Monday and Thursday morning, so keep an eye on your email for more information and next steps!
About Osher Online
Beginning Summer 2025, we are now offering additional Zoom courses through Osher Online. These programs will allow our Tufts OLLI members to take classes on a wider variety of topics with an even more diverse pool of instructors and join other OLLI members from across the country! These courses were created by the Osher National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University and are delivered by that program. Their staff will provide moderators and technical assistance. Please note that as these courses are offered nationally, there will be far more students enrolled than in a usual Tufts OLLI course.
Each course is six weeks in duration, with 1.5-hour sessions every week. As such, we have reduced the cost to $125 per person, per course instead of the usual 6 session rate of $150. Sessions take place via Zoom. Sessions are not recorded, so live attendance is essential. A Tufts OLLI membership is required to register for any of these courses. After registering for Osher Online courses, students will receive a welcome email from Osher NRC that includes a link to the Osher Online website. The website holds the class Zoom link, syllabus, discussion board, and Customer Care contact information. Students will also receive an invitation to a pre-class orientation with information on accessing courses (see the “Before Your First Class!” section). To ensure you do not miss any emails from Osher Online, please add OsherOnline@northwestern.edu to your email contact list.
Before Your First Class!
Once you register for any Osher Online course, we strongly encourage you to attend their orientation session. A registration link will be provvided after you register for one of the courses. You can also watch their Member Orientation recording to ensure you are fully prepared for your first day of class. Afterwards, practice logging in at www. osheronline.net!
Support for Courses
While registration is processed through Tufts OLLI, support for Osher Online courses is provided by the Osher Online Team at the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies. For assistance, call them at (312) 503-5555 or email OsherOnline@northwestern. edu.
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE
Courses offered through Osher Online are indicated by the above label.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Manage Your Thoughts so They Do Not Manage You 17
Mindful & Relaxed: Gentle Practices for Longevity and Aging 23
Planning Ahead: Understanding Advance Directives 13
Protecting Yourself as a Patient 15
HISTORY
Athens and Democracy 11
History and Signs: How Signs Tell America’s Story 24
History of the Roman Imperial Empire through Coinage 16
Revolutionary Echoes in Washington DC 23
The Indispensable Founder: George Washington 11
Women & Power: Cultural Underpinnings that Exclude Women 21
Women in Ancient Egypt 10
LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY
Children’s Literature: The Development of a Genre 14
Good Talk: The Philosophy and Art of Conversation 20
The 40-year-long Cyberpunk Decade 18
POLITICS, ECONOMICS, AND SOCIOLOGY
Deaf Culture and History 22
Endless Gounds: Coffee’s Social, Economic, and Cultural Life 22
SCIENCE, NATURE, AND TECHNOLOGY
Canals and the Making of the Modern World 18
Horticulture A-Z 15
Humans and Animals: New Perspectives 20
Plant ID Guided Nature Walk 09
The Digital Shift: How Computing Remade Media 10
TRAVEL AND CULTURE
A Tale of Two Italys, the NorthSouth Divide 16
Discovering Portugal 14
Hindu Traditions: Ritual, Knowledge, Devotion 19
Nevada – A Unique State 24
VISUAL ARTS
Advanced Smartphone Photography (The Commons) 21
Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History 14
Film and History 17
Introduction to Fandoms 12
The Cinema of Francis Ford Coppola: The Godfather Trilogy and Apocalypse Now 13
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: 80s & 90s Films 09
Plant ID Guided Nature Walk $50
Jeff Adams, OLLI Member
Monday, 10am - 12pm 2 Sessions
6/1, 6/8 (Rain dates: 6/2, 6/9)
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: None Max: 12
Please join Jeff for two (2) Summer
Plant ID Guided Nature walks at Greenwood Park and Virginia Wood, both in Stoneham, MA. Each location will have predominantly even terrain but will have some minimal elevation gain. There are parking lots at each location. We’ll focus on Plant ID, looking at native species along with a few non-natives. We’ll include some select natural history too and learn about helpful identifiers such as branching patterns, galls, buds, leaves, and diagnostic characteristics that enable us to immediately identify the plant. And we’ll discuss specifics on native vs. non-native. ALL are welcome.
Jeff is an avid outdoor enthusiast and naturalist who’s been enjoying the natural world for 50 years. He’s a member of the Friends of the Fells, The Trustees, Mass Audubon, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Acton Conservation Trust, Arlington Land Trust, Essex Greenbelt, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Rural Land Foundation, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts University, Newton Conservators, Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation and The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Inc.
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: 80s & 90s Films $100
Randy Cronk, OLLI Member
Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22
Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Min: 8 Max: 22
Remember those iconic scenes in a Chicago theater balcony where critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave movies a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”? This course takes you back to those transformative decades in American cinema. Each week, we’ll watch two paired landmark films at home— contrasting the pure spectacle of Raiders of the Lost Ark with the psychological realism of Ordinary People, or the postmodern Pulp Fiction with the chilling procedural The Silence of the Lambs. In class, we’ll delve into Siskel and Ebert’s reviews to spark our own debates. In the process, we’ll also explore critical frameworks for analyzing the structure, style, and themes of the paired films. Together, we’ll unravel genre-changing cinematic techniques, such as non-verbal acting, fragmented timelines, pastiche, and subversive dark humor. Join us to sharpen your critical eye and relive a dynamic era of moviemaking.
Randy Cronk is a retired freelance copywriter and marketing communications executive. He started his career as a technical writer at Digital Equipment Corporation while earning his MBA from Clark University. After Digital he worked for seven years at two public relations firms,
Hill and Knowlton and Regis McKenna, where as vice president he had oversight responsibility for the Digital and United Airlines accounts. In 1990 he started his own marketing writing practice, greatwriting. Over the span of 30 years his more than 300 clients included Analog Devices, ARM, Boston Engineering, Cognizant, Digital Equipment, Edgewater Technology, HubSpot, KPMG, Medullan, Smart Bear, Sprint, The MathWorks, and The National Security Agency. Randy’s hobbies include travel, the gym, 60s/70s music, Western literature, and literary criticism.
Women in Ancient Egypt $75
Hannah Male, Tufts Alum
Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 3 Sessions 6/1, 6/8, 6/15
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: 5 Max: 15
This course will be a revised version of an earlier course with the same title that I taught virtually for Osher. The revisions are based on student feedback from the last course and improved teaching abilities from my time at IU. General themes to be covered: the lives of women in ancient Egypt, royal and nonroyal, from a social and legal perspective, mainly focusing on Egypt’s pharaonic period (Predynastic to Late New Kingdom). Like my other courses, the framework will be lecture-based with PowerPoints as the main visual aid.
Hannah Male is a 2019 graduate of Tufts University MA program in History and Museum Studies with a BA in History from Sweet Briar College. She is currently enrolled in IU’s Master’s in Egyptology program. Her ultimate aim is to become a curator of objects from the ancient world.
She looks forward to exploring objects under her care and researching cross-cultural connections.
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE
The Digital Shift: How Computing Remade Media $125
Rafael Davis Portela, Osher Online
Monday, 11am - 12:30pm 6 Sessions
7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
The music we stream, the photos we swipe through, the real-time news we consume, the books we read or listen to – all have been radically reshaped by digital technology. This course will explore how media is created, stored, and experienced in a digitized world. We will unpack fundamentals like text files, encoding and decoding, pixels, and algorithms in clear, easy-to-understand ways – no prior computer knowledge needed. Each session will focus on a different medium, comparing its analog origins with its contemporary digital version. We will also consider the impact of Generative AI and speculate on future trends. Topics will include text (books, e-books, news portals), images (photography and movies), music, video games, social media, and media ownership (physical media, streaming, and copyrights).
Rafael Davis Portela is a PhD candidate in Latin American History at the Graduate Center, CUNY. His research examines the history of computing and technology, especially how they shaped and were shaped by economy. His dissertation traces
Microsoft’s expansion in Brazil, the rise of the Brazilian computing industry, and resulting tensions between the US and Brazilian governments. Beyond history, Portela is passionate about programming and digital tools and has taught university researchers how to use computing in their own work.
The Indispensable Founder: George Washington $125
Dede Petri, Osher Online
Monday, 1pm - 2:30pm 6 Sessions 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, this course will examine the indispensable founder, George Washington. We will explore Washington’s life and political leadership as well as his work as a farmer, entrepreneur, and architect. We will also review the groundbreaking work of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA), which has owned and managed George Washington’s Mount Vernon since 1858. In that year, an intrepid group of women (who had no right to vote or own property) came together to save George Washington’s home, after both the Federal Government and the Commonwealth of Virginia had refused to help. MVLA formation marked the birth of the historic preservation movement.
Anne “Dede” Neal Petri was elected the 24th Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA) in 2024. The MVLA, founded in 1858, is responsible for the management and preservation of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The MVLA mission is to educate the world
about the leadership and character of George Washington in order to inspire future generations. Petri received her undergraduate degree in American history and literature from Harvard College and her law degree from Harvard Law School.
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM
Athens and Democracy $100
Steven Hirsch, Retired Tufts Faculty or Staff Member
Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23
Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 20
This is a course on ancient Athens and its democracy. While we begin with developments in the sixth century BCE that led to the formation of a democratic political system, we will primarily be concerned with the fifth century, the period of the fully developed democracy, an Aegean naval empire, and the flowering of drama, oratory and historical writing. Democracy is a concept of exceptional importance for Americans, so there is value in seeing some of its roots. We will make comparisons between the Athenian democracy and legal system and our own American democracy and legal system, where we will find both similarities and profound differences. Note also that the Athenian democracy was virtually unique in being able to control its wealthy elite. While I will be lecturing much of the time, there will also be opportunities for discussion. We will also spend part of a class simulating a meeting of the Athenian assembly in which all class members will participate.
I have some fairly short readings in mind, which are recommended but not required— excerpts from writers such as Aristotle, Herodotus and Plutarch— which I will make available to the class.
Steven Hirsch was a professor in the Classical Studies Department at Tufts, with an adjunct appointment in the History Department, for 43 years, having retired two years ago. While primarily an historian, he also taught many classes on the languages and literatures of Greece and Rome, and late in his career began to teach courses comparing the Mediterranean civilizations with ancient China. His research has focused on the interactions of the Greek city-states with the Persian Empire during the sixth to fourth centuries BCE. He is also co-author of a popular (currently in its 8th edition) global history textbook, ‘The Earth and its Peoples,’ with responsibility for the chapters covering prehistory to 500 CE around the world. In his now abundant spare time he is working on a comparison of the Greek and Chinese historical traditions, as well as pursuing interests in science (particle physics and astrophysics), linguistics, and the histories he doesn’t know, and playing and coaching power wheelchair soccer.
Introduction to Fandoms $100
Culiandra Nero, Tufts Graduate Student
Tuesday, 6pm - 8pm 4 Sessions 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: None Max: 30
This course will explore the history and current state of fan studies, what it means to be a fan, how culture shapes fandom, how fandom shapes culture, and the role fandom participation has in identity development. Through weekly
readings, in-class discussions, and examples, we will study how fans are active participants who consume and sometimes reinterpret popular media through fan works. We will analyze a variety of fandoms, including examples from sports, music, television, and video games. Key themes in this course include the historical development of fan studies as an academic discipline, how the controversies within fandom relate to broader social movements, and how fan identity and personal identity develop in ongoing dialogue with each other. By the end of this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of fandom and its impact on media, communication, and society.
Culiandra Nero is a Tufts student that will graduate with a M.A. in Child Study and Human Development in May of 2026 and holds a B.A. in CSHD and a B.A. Film and Media Studies from Tufts as well. Her past research focused on children’s media and the importance of representation in media. Currently, she is a graduate research assistant in The Belonging Lab for Equity and Flourishing where she helps run an after school program to support AWE (awe, wonder, exploration) practices that enhance high school students’ well-being, academic engagement, and civic identity. For her master’s thesis, she is using theories from child development, fan studies, and media studies to analyze the role fan vids play in the fandoms and in the identities of fans of American animated TV shows and movies. In 2024, she co-taught a course through the Ex-College titled “Steamboat Willie to Bluey: American Children’s Cartoons.”
TUESDAYS
Planning
Ahead: Understanding Advance Directives $75
Cryst’l Scheer, Outside Instructor
Tuesday, 10am - 12pm 3 Sessions 6/2, 6/9, 6/16
Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 20
This course provides a clear, practical introduction to advanced care planning and the role of advance directives in communicating values, priorities, and healthcare wishes. Participants will explore the purpose and components of commonly used documents, including state-specific advance directives for healthcare, DNR orders, and POLST orders. The course clarifies how these documents differ, when each is typically used, and how they work within the healthcare system. Time is also spent exploring vigil and memorial planning as expansions of advance directives. Participants will also learn strategies for having meaningful conversations with loved ones and healthcare providers. Guided reflection, discussion support, thoughtful decision-making, and peer learning. Dedicated time is included for participants to complete an advance directive with structured guidance. Participants will leave with increased confidence in documenting their wishes and appropriately sharing completed documents with family members and healthcare providers.
Cryst’l Scheer is a professionally trained end-of-life doula, certified thanatologist, and educator focused on advance care planning, legacy work, and death literacy across the lifespan, with a background in hospice care. She is the founder of Summit Care Partners
and teaches community classes and workshops that support informed medical decision-making, end-of-life planning, and meaningful conversations about aging and mortality. Cryst’l earned her B.S. in Sociology from Oregon State University and is a Qualified Advance Directive Facilitator, certified Guided Autobiography instructor, and Legacy Navigator. She has taught at various OLLI locations since 2022 and is an end-of-life doula instructor at the University of Vermont. She brings an interdisciplinary perspective that blends applied experience with academic foundations in thanatology and sociology.
The Cinema Of Francis Ford Coppola: The Godfather Trilogy and Apocalypse Now $100 Allan Elfant, OLLI Member
Tuesday, 1pm - 5pm 4 Sessions 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: None Max: 16
Francis Ford Coppola is considered one of the leading cinema directors of our time and has received many prestigious film awards. We will sample four of his creative endeavors: Apocalypse Now , The Godfather , The Godfather: Part II , and The Godfather: Part III . Due to the length of the films, classes will be approximately 4 hours or more. Optional readings will be provided online.
Allan Elfant has a B.A. in psychology from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University. He was in clinical practice for over 40 years and held teaching positions at several universities. He has led over two dozen study groups for our OLLI on cinematic and other themes.
Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History $125
Emanuel Abramovits, Osher Online
Tuesday, 5pm - 6:30pm 6 Sessions 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
Musicals have been a major part of American theater, from the Tin Pan Alley-driven comedies of the early twentieth century to the integrated musicals that flourished in the heyday years of midcentury America. In this course, we will explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the arrival of European mega-productions late in the century. We will profile some of the theater world’s leading composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors, and performers. With the help of audiovisuals, we will study many of the most unforgettable shows, including Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Show Boat, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Cabaret, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton, and more.
Emanuel Abramovits is a mechanical engineer and has been a concert promoter for over two decades. He is involved in events by international artists like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, and Kenny G. Abramovits has designed and staged original orchestral events, including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres. He served as the cultural director at Union Israelita De Caracas, releasing books and organizing film cycles, concerts, and art exhibits.
Children’s Literature: The Development of a Genre $125
Blake Regnier, Osher Online
Tuesday, 11am - 12:30pm 6 Sessions
7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
In this course, we will trace the evolution of literature specifically written for children---from its earliest forms to the modern era. We will begin with the oral traditions that underpin all storytelling, then follow the shift toward published works created specifically with young readers in mind. We will survey key moments and turning points that shaped the growth of children’s literature as a distinct field. We will conclude by analyzing how a well-known children’s literature has evolved over time.
Blake Regnier is a former middle school reading interventionist and current English instructor for Worthington Learning Center. Regnier is also an adjunct instructor of English for Minnesota West Community and Technical College. With a diverse background in literary traditions spanning classical works through the modern era, his primary research interest has been in Victorian era monsters and other assorted “things that go bump in the night.”
Discovering Portugal $125
Alison Roberts, Osher Online
Tuesday, 1pm - 2:30pm 6 Sessions 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
In this course, we will explore how a tiny nation – Portugal – played an outsized
role in world history. We will examine Portugal’s fifteenth and sixteenth century maritime expansion (once called the “Discoveries”), as well as its central role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. We will trace how Portugal, once a fringe region of the Roman Empire, emerged as the only independent kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula as Castile grew into Spain. We will follow Portugal’s rise as a global power, with outposts stretching from Brazil to Japan, and then its decline as rival empires overtook it – culminating in twentieth century poverty under Europe’s longest dictatorship. Finally, we will consider how this past continues to shape Portuguese identity and culture in the decades since a revolution ushered in democracy. As we survey Portugal’s landscapes, art and architecture, and food, we will see why record numbers of Americans are now visiting the country.
Alison Roberts is a journalist with nearly four decades of experience, reporting in her native UK and later internationally for English-language outlets including the BBC, NPR, and Bloomberg News. Her work has covered politics, finance, sports, and the arts. She has edited or contributed to a dozen guidebooks and provided online updates for Fodor’s, Time Out, and other publishers. Now based in Portugal, she is writing a history of the country and has explored it extensively from north to south.
Horticulture A-Z $125
Chris Baker, Osher Online
Tuesday, 7pm - 8:30pm 6 Sessions
7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
In this course, we will explore a wide range of horticultural practices with something to offer no matter our experience level or where we live. We will cover container gardening, aquatic gardens, ornamental and fruiting plants, bonsai, landscape design, and pest management. Each week, we will focus on a theme and examine design ideas, plant choices, and long-term care practices for success. Whether we garden on 10 acres or in an apartment, we will find plenty to learn and enjoy in horticulture.
Chris Baker has worked in horticulture for 15 years, including as a horticulturist at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and as Curator of Bonsai at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He focuses on the use and benefits of native plant species and sound, ecofriendly horticultural practices. Baker studied with bonsai master Torho Suzuki at the Daiju-en Nursery in Japan. He is President of the North American Bonsai Federation and a board member of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation.
Protecting Yourself as a Patient $125
Hardeep Singh, Osher Online
Tuesday, 3pm - 4:30pm 6 Sessions 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
This course will arm us with the knowledge we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe when engaging with the healthcare system. Health care today is more complex, technical, and volatile than ever. Medical harm (unintentional but often preventable) injures and kills hundreds of thousands of patients each year. In this course,
we will learn how to prevent the most common types of medical harm, including medication errors, patient care accidents, procedural and surgical complications, infections, and diagnostic mistakes. Patient safety experts and advocates will provide us with practical tips and insights to navigate the healthcare system confidently and safely. Through presentations, videos, and group discussions, we will come to understand the common sources of error and discover tactics, resources, and cautions to help protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Hardeep Singh, MD, is a Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a leader in quality and safety research focused on reducing diagnostic errors, improving health information technology, and transforming health care systems. His work has informed major patient-safety initiatives and policy reports from organizations including the National Academy of Medicine, CDC, OECD, and WHO. He has received prestigious awards for his pioneering work, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for Individual Lifetime Achievement.
IN-PERSON AT BROOKHAVEN AT LEXINGTON
History of the Roman Imperial Empire through Coinage $100
Michael Festa, Tufts Alum
Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24
Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 15
A history of the 12 Caesars, from Julius Caesar to Domitian, explored from the perspective of Roman imperial coinage. Detailed examination of the lives, events and monetary practices of the Roman Empire from 50 BC to 96 AD.
Michael Festa is a lawyer. He was formerly Secretary of MA Elder Affairs, MA State Representative (5 terms), AARP MA State Director (11 years), Adjunct Professor, Suffolk University Sawyer School of Business (5 years). He is currently a Board Member of Ancient Coin Collectors Guild, American Numismatic Association.
IN-PERSON AT TUFTS
A
Tale of Two Italys, the North-South Divide $25
Daniel Possumato, Outside Instructor
Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 1 Sessions 6/10
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: 15 Max: 40
Italy’s economy is more geographically divided than any other country in Europe. The north has a GDP per capita equal to 127% of the EU average, while the south is only 56%. There is a pronounced social, cultural, and political divide as well. The well-worn stereotypes about the north and south persist, both within the country and abroad. People are rich and reserved in the industrial north, while the south is friendly but impoverished, chaotic, and crimeridden. We will examine how true these statements are, the historical differences between the two regions, and ponder the reasons why
all efforts to eliminate the disparity since the 19th century have failed.
Dan Possumato is a retired senior civilian employee of the U.S. Army. He has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, a diploma from the U S. Army War College, and he was a faculty member at the Army Management Staff College. He has also taught for OLLI programs in Maine and Pittsburgh. He is a dual U.S. — Italian citizen and enjoys sharing his knowledge of Italy with others.
Film and History $100
Reed Ueda, Tufts Faculty or Staff Member
Wednesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions
6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24
Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Min: None Max: 20
Exploration of movies and documentaries depicting historical events. We will view film on key subjects such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Wild West, European monarchy, immigration, racial minorities, women, and civil rights. Discussion of the impact of film on our ability to understand and imagine the past.
Professor Reed Ueda teaches U. S. History at Tufts University. He was born in Honolulu and grew up in Los Angeles where he went to UCLA. He has taught courses on the changing American nation and world history. He takes the perspective of connecting the local and regional with the national and global. He has published dozens of books and articles including “America’s Changing Neighborhoods.”
Manage Your Thoughts so They Do Not Manage You $100
Paula McCree, Tufts Alum, Outside Instructor
Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24
Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 10
As a participant in Manage Your Thoughts so They Do Not Manage You, you will learn how the mind plays tricks on us that have become habitual ways of thinking and being. Some of these are necessary and protective, but some are not. During the course, you will learn and practice skills to turn the mind from being a foe into an ally when it comes to your own well-being and resilience. You will learn to recognize the negative default response mechanisms and how to “rewire” the mind to foster more adaptive responses. Each session begins and ends with a meditation and includes evidence-based hands-on practices, reflection, and an opportunity to learn about and share experiences with other participants.
Paula is a certified Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) Instructor through the Mass General, Benson Henry Mind Body Institute with additional certification in the Power of Awareness and Mindfulness Mentor training by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. In addition, she is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and Certified Life and Success Coach through the Jay Shetty Coaching Certification School. Paula also holds an MS in Nutrition from the Tufts
School of Nutrition. Paula offers a variety of wellbeing and resilience programs and practices through 1:1 coaching, workshops, and yoga programs which are designed to guide participants discover what works for them to lead their best life in service to their future self while navigating and managing all the changes that come with daily living with grace and ease. All of the programs and services are grounded in evidencebased practices from positive psychology, cognitive behavior theory, and mindfulness layered on a foundation of healthy lifestyle behaviors including nutrition, exercise, and sleep with a healthy dose of creativity and humor. The majority of her career to date has been in program management and oversight within the healthcare industry. She has been responsible for starting new functions within organizations as well as starting new organizations. In all of these roles she created cultures where employees not just thrive, but flourish by bringing mindful practices to everyday leadership. Realizing this was her passion, she is now dedicating her time to teaching these practices and making them available to those who might not otherwise have access to them. All of her services are delivered in community settings including libraries, senior centers, and the YMCA.
The 40-year-long Cyberpunk Decade
$100
Jonathan Schaffer, Outside Instructor
Wednesday, 6pm - 8pm 4 Sessions 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: 5 Max: None
In 1984, William Gibson’s “Neuromancer” changed the literary landscape for science fiction, depicting a near future defined by societal decay, artificial
intelligences, and an all-encompassing cyberspace. Less than a decade later, however, Neal Stephenson, today recognized as another great cyberpunk author, published his 1992 novel “Snow Crash” as ‘postcyberpunk.’ Cyberpunk, then, must have been as dead as modernism is today. Yet in 2020, one of the most popular video games released that year was titled “Cyberpunk 2077.” If authors considered us ‘post’ cyberpunk by the early 90s, how is this genre still thriving today? Through reading original texts of both cyberpunk and postcyberpunk, we will figure out how authors define genre, how genre is used in marketing, and whether genre is limited by an author’s political concerns.
Jonathan Schaffer (he/his/him) is a MA student in Brandeis University’s English department. He is a professional student, working full-time at Brandeis University as an Area Coordinator while completing his studies. Jonathan has a background teaching English as a foreign language to mixed Israeli and Palestinian groups, as well as teaching first year seminars at both Rutgers University and Brandeis University. The opportunity to explore applications of literary technique to daily work in American higher education are of great importance and interest to Jonathan. Jonathan’s research interests include queer and disability reading, ludonarratology, contemporary genre across mediums, and medievalist fictions.
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE
Canals and the Making of the Modern World $125
Bernie Carlson, Osher Online
Wednesday, 11am - 12:30pm 6 Sessions
7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it revolutionized American travel and transportation, but its inspiration came from Europe’s earlier canal networks. In this course, we will trace the development of French, British, and Irish canals in the 17th and 18th centuries. We will follow the story into the 19th century as we turn to American canals, especially in New York and Pennsylvania. Along the way, we will explore how canals reflect the politics and aspirations of different nations and why they still matter for global shipping today. Whether we are drawn to engineering marvels, the people who built them, or the pleasure of drifting along a canal or hiking a towpath, we will deepen our appreciation of canals’ importance and beauty.
Bernard (Bernie) Carlson is Vaughan Professor Emeritus of Humanities at the University of Virginia and an expert on invention, entrepreneurship, and technology’s role in society. He received the Sally Hacker Prize from the Society for the History of Technology and the William Middleton Prize from the IEEE, and filmed Understanding the Inventions that Changed the World. Now based in Ireland, he directs the MS program in AgInnovation at the University of Galway, where he trains adult learners in product development, startups, and sustainable farming.
Hindu Traditions: Ritual, Knowledge, Devotion $125
Eileen Goddard, Osher Online
Wednesday, 3pm - 4:30pm 6 Sessions
7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
In this course, we will gain a comprehensive introduction to Hindu traditions, emphasizing the importance of ritual, knowledge, and devotion across Hindu traditions from classical to contemporary times. We will introduce Hinduism’s South Asian roots, which can be traced to the Vedic tradition, which provides key conceptual and religious foundations. We will consider early and classical expressions of Hindu thought and religious life through the complex term dharma. Major Hindu deities are then introduced alongside associated narratives, practices, and iconography. We will examine the six major schools of Hindu philosophy using both secondary and primary sources. We will then consider bhakti (devotion) that has characterized diverse Hindu traditions across centuries. Finally, we will consider sacred space and places, including temples and t_rthas, as well as the interrelationship of the concept of divine presence and pilgrimage practices that relate to these holy sites.
Eileen Goddard is a Religious Studies Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Goddard lectures on Indian and Asian religious traditions at both UCSB and the University of Houston. Her research centers on the interrelationship of soteriology and embodiment in the sixteenth-century Gaudīya Vaisnava Krsna tradition. She is a comparative scholar whose research also includes the Pātañjala Yoga, Advaita Vedānta, Śrīvaisnava, and Pāñcarātra traditions, analyzing how emotion, desire, meditation, and ritual variously contribute towards ultimate
IN-PERSON AT TUFTS
Good Talk: The Philosophy and Art of Conversation $100
Justin Jiménez, Tufts Faculty or Staff Member
Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: None Max: 15
What is the value of conversation today? How can ‘good talk’ engender possibilities to relate, think, and be otherwise? This course examines, or more accurately, recuperates an ethic of attunement and resonance through conversation often lost in our current age of radical disconnection, algorithmic echo chambers, and the insidious epidemic of loneliness. Together, we explore conversation not merely as a social skill as espoused by popular self-help or self-improvement discourses, but as a particular philosophy of encounter—the idea that who we become is inseparable from the conversations we have the courage to enter. In addition to reading our core text, “Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation” by Paula Marantz Cohen, we experiment in each session with different affects, postures, and modalities of conversation in relation to our collective interests and experiences in the wider sociopolitical conjuncture.
Justin P. Jiménez, PhD, is a critically recognized scholar-practitioner with 15 years of experience in higher education. He has developed and taught courses in critical theory and the sociocultural foundations of
education. Much of Justin’s work examines the content and character of relational literacies in teaching and learning contexts. He serves as a core faculty member in the Educational Studies Master’s Program and as the Senior Academic Coach in the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources Center at Tufts University.
Humans and Animals: New Perspectives $100
Stephen Strout, Tufts Graduate Student
Thursday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 10
This course will examine the complex relationships between humans and animals, challenging speciesism and anthropocentrism through a critical lens. Students will explore the ethical and social implications of factory farming, laboratory testing, and wildlife conservation while analyzing the landscape of animal public policy. By investigating how animal oppression intersects with other forms of social injustice, the course equips students with the tools for effective advocacy, striving toward a more compassionate and just world for all.
Steve is originally from Maine and earned a BA in Economics from Bowdoin College. He is currently working towards a Masters in Educational Studies at Tufts University with a focus on humane education and animal advocacy. He is currently working on his thesis which will explore humane education programs within animal sanctuaries across the US. Steve also works with the MSPCA’s Advocacy Leaders group to lobby in support of animal protection legislation in
Massachusetts. He also volunteers with the Conservation Learning team at the New England Aquarium. Steve is passionate about developing educational programs that positively impact our relationship with animals, the environment, and each other.
Women & Power: Cultural Underpinnings that Exclude Women
$100
Curtis Nelson, OLLI Member
Thursday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions
5/28, 6/4, 6/11, 6/18
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: None Max: 15
In this class, we will read classicist Mary Beard’s (very short) book, Women & Power: A Manifesto , which considers the roots of patriarchy as expressed in the ancient world and how these continue to inform expressions and perceptions of power today. We will discuss her thesis as evidenced in the world around us and in our own lives, and we will begin to respond to her challenge to change what we mean by “power”. From Medusa to Philomela (whose tongue was cut out), from Hillary Clinton to Elizabeth Warren (who was told to sit down), Beard draws illuminating parallels between our cultural assumptions about women’s relationship to power—and how powerful women provide a necessary example for all women who must resist being vacuumed into a male template. All genders are welcome in this class, which will focus on the experiences of those traditionally defined as women. There are certainly plenty of challenges to other groups trying to participate more effectively in the power structures of their public and private lives, but that is another class(es). Purchase of book (97 pages and $9.20
on Amazon) required and use of laptop or other device for research suggested.
Curtis Nelson has taught a variety of Humanities classes in 9 - 12th grades at international and independent schools in the greater Boston area. She has degrees from Yale (political philosophy), Smith (Theater Arts), and Harvard (Learning and Teaching) and worked as a fundraiser before returning to classroom teaching in 2011. She enjoys swimming, yoga, books, movies, cooking, theater/music/ballet/museum going, travelling, writing, conversation, and spending time with family and friends.
IN-PERSON AT THE COMMONS IN LINCOLN
Advanced Smartphone Photography (The Commons) $100
Steve McGrath, Outside Instructor
Thursday, 10am - 11:30am 4 Sessions 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: 5 Max: 15
This class is dedicated to helping you advance your understanding of how to use your smartphone photography and manual controls. Like ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and how to take great images on your phone! What editing apps to use to give you more control if your smartphone doesn’t have them! And equipment that you can use to help your images, like telephoto lenses, tripods, and filters. Join Steve as we go over how to use the essential controls on your phone, along with the best free and low-cost tools for editing and image management. And updated handouts!
Steve McGrath is professional freelance Photographer and Photography Teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion “nature photography” Many of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE
Deaf Culture and History $125
Matthew Cooper, Osher Online
Thursday, 5pm - 6:30pm 6 Sessions 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
This course introduces key aspects of Deaf Culture in the United States and the factors that define the Deaf community as a cultural minority. We will focus on awareness, cultural diversity, and the preservation of language. This course addresses the cultural identity, group norms, rules of social interaction, values, and traditions held by deaf members. Together, we will explore the impact of modern technology, emerging issues, trends, and advocacy with the Deaf community. We will also address topics related to communication, terminology, educational alternatives, state and federal legislation, and community resources.
Matthew Cooper is an Assistant Professor of American Sign Language at the
University of Tulsa and adjunct faculty at Tulsa Community College. Born to two Deaf parents, Cooper grew up a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) in a family who were leaders and active participants in the Deaf community. In 2025, Cooper was a TEDx Editor’s Pick for his TEDx Talk titled Between Two Worlds: A CODA’s Perspective. He is currently writing a book about the modern CODA experience.
Endless Grounds: Coffee’s Social, Economic, and Cultural Life $125
Robert Thurston, Osher Online
Thursday, 11am - 12:30pm 6 Sessions
7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
Coffee will provide a lively lens on major past and present issues, including climate change, social life, health, global North–South differences, social and economic justice, tourism, and slavery. We will begin “from the ground up,” tracing coffee from planting and processing through shipping and, ultimately, the beverage in our cupspart of nearly two billion cups consumed daily worldwide. We will explore coffee’s global history and its shift from an elite drink to an everyday staple. Drawing on current research, we will examine coffee and health, as well as practical questions such as how more income might reach farmers and how coffee production might adapt to a changing climate. The instructor will share firsthand experiences from coffee farms around the world, discuss a range of brewing methods, and demonstrate how coffee is brewed. Sessions will be interactive, with time for questions throughout.
Robert Thurston, PhD, is Emeritus Professor of History at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio). He earned a BA in History from Northwestern University and a PhD in modern Russian history from the University of Michigan. His writing spans twentiethcentury Russian/Soviet history, witch hunts (Europe and Salem), the body in the Anglosphere (1880–1920), and coffee as an economic and social force. A devoted coffee educator, he has opened a roastery and coffee shop and has visited coffee farms from Asia to South America.
Revolutionary Echoes in Washington
DC $125
Kasey Sease, Osher Online
Thursday, 1pm - 2:30pm 6 Sessions
7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
The Declaration of Independence is a pivotal American document, not just for eighteenth-century revolutionaries, but for people throughout US history. This course will explore how individuals in Washington, D.C., used the Declaration and its ideas after independence was won. From the capital city’s planners to Union soldiers who defended Washington amid civil war, many evoked the Declaration to support their causes and shape a capital city. Spotlighting museum artifacts from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, this course will cover D.C.’s early history through 1876, the nation’s first centennial celebration.
Kasey Sease, PhD, is Curator of the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in Washington,
D.C. Beyond developing exhibitions and activating the collection, she programs the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies. A former Managing Editor of Washington History, Kasey holds degrees from the College of William and Mary (PhD, MA, history) and the University of Virginia (BA, history and government).
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM
Mindful & Relaxed: Gentle Practices for Longevity and Aging $100
Aung Moe, Shiou Ai Huang, Outside Instructors
Friday, 11am - 1pm 4 Sessions 5/29, 6/5, 6/12, 6/26
Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion
Min: None Max: None
A blended class offering gentle practices that support longevity, balance, and presence. We weave gentle Yoga, Integral Tai Chi, mindful movements, and meditation to help seniors cultivate ease and stability. Each session nurtures calm, balance, and embodied awareness for everyday living, inviting participants to move, breathe, and live with meaning in the second half of life.
Being born into the Buddhist culture, Aung learned meditation at a young age. He practiced meditation under many traditions including Mahasi, Mogok, Ledi, ChanMyay and Theinngu. He has also been ordained as a temporary Buddhist monk many times in Theravada tradition and studied Vipassana meditation, Buddhist literature, psychology, and practices. Due to back pain, he started practicing Integral Tai Chi and Yoga in 2009 and later he became an Integral Tai Chi instructor. Years of
practice and teaching have deepened his understanding of the mind and body relationships. Aung guides the practitioners on how to reduce physical and mental stress by recognizing early symptoms; mitigating them through relaxation, mindful actions, and mindful thoughts; using the sensational awareness that practitioners experienced from the classes and workshops.
Shiou is a medical doctor with five years of yoga practice (RYT 200 certified) and a deep passion for helping people stay strong, active, and balanced at every stage of life. Drawing on her medical knowledge, she teaches gentle, safe movements that support everyday activities for kids, adults, and seniors alike. Her approach blends simple yoga, mindful breathing, and relaxation to nourish both body and mind. Shiou’s classes are warm, welcoming, and easy to follow, helping children build healthy movement habits and older adults feel confident, calm, and joyful in daily life.
Nevada — A Unique State $50
Stephenie Slahor, Outside Instructor
Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 2 Sessions 6/5, 6/12
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: 5 Max: 100
Nevada is famous for Las Vegas and Reno, but the state is much more than that. Its geology, archaeology, natural history, mining, and human history are unique among the States. We’ll explore Nevada and learn its fascinating stories. In this course, we’ll discuss the geology of Nevada; ancient inhabitation; mining as a major economic driver; gaming as a toursim driver for Las Vegas and Reno; scenic and unique sites throughout the state; the Great Basin; State Parks;
modern human history.
Dr. Stephenie Slahor is retired from university and law school teaching and now creates and presents multi-session and single-session courses for OLLI programs around the nation. Her primary fields are the natural sciences, geography, and sites around the world where human history and nature are significantly linked.
VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE
History of Signs: How Signs Tell America’s Story $125
Erin Holland, Osher Online
Friday, 11am - 12:30pm 6 Sessions
7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28
Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture
Min: None Max: 13
Explore 100 years of American history through objects often taken for granted in everyday life: signs. Led by the American Sign Museum (ASM) staff, this course introduces the Museum’s origins and features a conversation with ASM’s founder about why signs matter. We will examine how signs have evolved due to trends in commerce and technology. We will also explore case studies of three major food companies that used signage to shape their brands. In the final session, we will take a virtual visit to ASM’s neon shop to see how a neon sign is made.
The American Sign Museum (Cincinnati, Ohio) covers more than 100 years of American sign history and displays more than 800 signs and artifacts, making it the most comprehensive museum of its kind. With a mission to educate the community
FRIDAYS
about the history of the sign industry and its significant contribution to commerce and the American landscape, the Museum is organized to preserve, archive and display a historical collection of signs in their many types and forms.
OLLI EVENTS Summer
All upcoming events are available on the special events page, go.tufts.edu/OLLIEvents. Full event details and the link to RSVP will be available to current members in the Tufts OLLI Weekly Digest.
Tufts OLLI Travel
Looking to step beyond the classroom and explore our local New England area? Tufts OLLI offers two unique travel programs to current members, OLLI on the Road and OLLI on Foot.
OLLI on the Road
OLLI on the Road offers domestic day trips taking members to explore new areas and attractions a little further afield than the MBTA can travel. Past examples of these unique travel experiences include a guided tour of the Currier Art Museum and Frank Lloyd Wright Homes in Manchester, NH, a guided tour of the Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, MA, and a three-part photography workshop including a trip to the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, MA.
The OLLI on the Road trips are organized by the Tufts OLLI Team, and a flat fee covers round-trip transportation to and from Tufts, any tickets required for entry, and lunch. Additional information about each trip and links to register will be shared via email.
OLLI on Foot
OLLI on Foot is a program offered by members, for members. These excursions are entirely run and organized by member volunteers, and will provide our community opportunities to explore areas and organizations in our own backyard. A huge ‘Thank You’ to all of our volunteer organizers!
Members participating in each experience will be required to provide their own transportation and pay any needed fees out of pocket on the day of the excursion. Additional information about each trip and links to register will be shared via email.
Our Summer 2026 adventures will be shared via email.
Our first Summer trip will be a tour of America’s Stonehenge in Salem, NH on May 12!
Propose A Course!
Do you have an idea for a course you would like to see?
Offer a Tufts OLLI Course!
Have you recently read a new book that you would like to discuss with others? Or traveled to a new destination that inspired you to learn more about the culture and history of that location? Share those interests and passions with Tufts OLLI members by instructing a course! Our members enjoy learning about topics in history, literature, current events, film, STEM—the list goes on!
Don’t worry if you’ve never led a class before: our Curriculum Committee will happily talk you through the process or help you formulate your ideas, so your course will be as enjoyable an experience of you as it will be for the participants. The Tufts OLLI office provides training and materials for new course instructors, and support for courses taking place virtually on Zoom or in-person. Member instructors are eligible for a free class as a thank you for being a class instructor.
The submission deadline and term dates and modalities can be found below, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Tufts OLLI office at OsherLLI@tufts.edu or the Tufts OLLI Curriculum Committee at OsherCurriculumCommittee@tufts.edu.
Visit olli.tufts.edu and the ‘Courses & Activities’ tab to propose a course today!
Fall 2026 (September 21 - November 14)
In-Person and Virtually on Zoom Course Proposal Submission Deadline: May 3, 2026
Winter 2027 (January 19 - March 12)
Virtually on Zoom
Spring 2027 (March 22 - May 14)
Proposal Submission Deadline: October 4, 2026
In-Person and Virtually on Zoom Course Proposal Submission Deadline: November 8, 2026
Summer 2027 (May 31 - June 28)
In-Person and Virtually on Zoom Course Proposal Submission Deadline: March 8, 2027
AT A GLANCE
MONDAYS
Plant ID Guided Nature Walk In-Person
Jeff Adams | Monday, 10am - 12pm (6/1, 6/8 (Rain dates: 6/2, 6/9))
The Digital Shift: How Computing Remade Media Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Rafael Davis Portela | Monday, 11am - 12:30pm (7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24)
The Indispensable Founder: George Washington Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Dede Petri | Monday, 1pm - 2:30pm (7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17)
Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: 80s & 90s Films Virtually on Zoom
Randy Cronk | Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22)
Women in Ancient Egypt Virtually on Zoom
Hannah Male | Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (6/1, 6/8, 6/15)
TUESDAYS
Athens and Democracy Virtually on Zoom
Steven Hirsch | Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23)
Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Emanuel Abramovits | Tuesday, 5pm - 6:30pm (7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25)
Children’s Literature: The Development of a Genre Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Blake Regnier | Tuesday, 11am - 12:30pm (7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11)
Discovering Portugal Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Alison Roberts | Tuesday, 1pm - 2:30pm (7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11)
Horticulture A-Z Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Chris Baker | Tuesday, 7pm - 8:30pm (7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11)
Introduction to Fandoms Virtually on Zoom
Culiandra Nero | Tuesday, 6pm - 8pm (6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23)
Planning Ahead: Understanding Advance Directives Virtually on Zoom
Cryst’l Scheer | Tuesday, 10am - 12pm (6/2, 6/9, 6/16)
Protecting Yourself as a Patient Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Hardeep Singh | Tuesday, 3pm - 4:30pm (7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, 8/25)
The Cinema Of Francis Ford Coppola: The Godfather Trilogy and Apocalypse Now Virtually on Zoom Allan Elfant | Tuesday, 1pm - 5pm (6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23)
WEDNESDAYS
A Tale of Two Italys, the North-South Divide In-Person at Tufts
Daniel Possumato | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (6/10)
Canals and the Making of the Modern World Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Bernie Carlson | Wednesday, 11am - 12:30pm (7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12)
Film and History In-Person at Tufts
Reed Ueda | Wednesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24)
Hindu Traditions: Ritual, Knowledge, Devotion Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Eileen Goddard | Wednesday, 3pm - 4:30pm (7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/19)
History of the Roman Imperial Empire through Coinage In-Person at Brookhaven
Michael Festa | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24)
Manage Your Thoughts so They Do Not Manage You Virtually on Zoom
Paula McCree | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24)
The 40-year-long Cyberpunk Decade Virtually on Zoom
Jonathan Schaffer | Wednesday, 6pm - 8pm (6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24)
THURSDAYS
Advanced Smartphone Photography (The Commons) In-Person at The Commons in Lincoln
Steve McGrath | Thursday, 10am - 11:30am (6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25)
Deaf Culture and History Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Matthew Cooper | Thursday, 5pm - 6:30pm (7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13)
Endless Grounds: Coffee’s Social, Economic, and Cultural Life Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Robert Thurston | Thursday, 11am - 12:30pm (7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13)
Good Talk: The Philosophy and Art of Conversation In-Person at Tufts
Justin Jiménez | Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25)
Humans and Animals: New Perspectives In-Person at Tufts
Stephen Strout | Thursday, 10am - 12pm (6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25)
Revolutionary Echoes in Washington DC Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online
Kasey Sease | Thursday, 1pm - 2:30pm (7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13)
Women & Power: Cultural Underpinnings that Exclude Women In-Person at Tufts
Curtis Nelson | Thursday, 10am - 12pm (5/28, 6/4, 6/11, 6/18)
History of Signs: How Signs Tell America’s Story Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Erin Holland | Friday, 11am - 12:30pm (7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28)
Mindful & Relaxed: Gentle Practices for Longevity and Aging Virtually on Zoom
Aung Moe, Shiou Ai Huang | Friday, 11am - 1pm (5/29, 6/5, 6/12, 6/26)
Nevada — A Unique State Virtually on Zoom
Stephenie Slahor | Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (6/5, 6/12)
Summer 2026 Registration Schedule
• Summer 2026 registration opens Wednesday, April 22, 2026
• Add/Drop period: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – Tuesday, May 26, 2026
• Courses begin Monday, June 1, 2026
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts University
Phone: (617) 627-5699
Email: OsherLLI@tufts.edu
Web: olli.tufts.edu
80 George Street Medford, MA 02155